A Beginner's Guide to Get Started on Gaming — Part 6: Best Games and Genres

Decades ago, when gaming was just in its infancy, I can't imagine anyone could fathom the behemoth it would become as it moved away from a niche into a mainstream — and very powerful — part of the entertainment industry. What began as a simple Tennis for Two title has evolved into gorgeous cinematic masterpieces, and this sudden change can, understandably, make those who aren't into gaming feel like they might be missing out. So, after a conversation with my wife, she inspired me to write a quick listicle of the best genres to pick up if you're interested in dipping your toes into the industry! Of course, I'll be naming a few games with each one so you can take your pick. 

Before I begin listing them, however, I do want to make a quick point about skill and patience. Not everyone will start off at the same level, and there's no shame in that! But that also means you shouldn't be afraid of trying more exciting titles if that's what allures you; just make sure you give yourself enough time and patience before you write yourself off. With that said, let us begin! Starting with…

Roguelite

While doing research for this article, I realised that one of the reasons why Vampire Survivors might've gone so viral is because of its phenomenal accessibility to so many levels of skill. This led me to realise how roguelite, despite not being particularly categorised as such, is one of the best genres to jump into when you're a novice to gaming. The reason is quite simple — it's all about death not being the end or punishing; in fact, every time you die, you get stronger, and that's the whole point of it! This is probably one of the best genres, as well as adventure, to try if you know you're going to enjoy adrenaline and movement. Games like Vampire Survivors, The Binding of Isaac (quick trigger warning for heavy themes), Brotato, Children of Morta, and — if you're feeling brave — Hades, which is a bit more complex.

Another great reason why roguelite is such a good option is because of the cheaper entry points to some of these titles, such as Vampire Suvivors, which only costs £3.99 ($4.99)! Just remember, this genre is all about it being okay to die!

Simulation Games

 

Another phenomenal genre for beginners is none other than simulation, which a lot of you might recognise through The Sims! These titles usually revolve around doing something in-game that you are familiar with in real life, such as in the case of PowerWash Simulator and Lawn Mowing Simulator. If you're not in the mood to do chores, there are also life-based ones, such as The Sims 4 (which is free!), Animal Crossing, Story of Seasons, and even Disney Dreamlight Valley, just to name a few! And, believe it or not, racing games like the beloved Mario Kart franchise are also considered simulation titles, and you'll find plenty of those arcade racers nowadays, too! They range from very realistic to cartoony, and their prices are equally divergent. Mario Kart, Disney Speedstorm, Hot Wheels Unleashed, Forza Horizon, and Assetto Corsa are a few of the options!

All phenomenal choices, depending on what drives your interest more. Regardless, they are all beginner-friendly because they let you play at your pace while also teaching you some of the basics in the process.

Adventure

If passive games aren't what you're looking for, there are tons of adventure titles that are very beginner-friendly, too. These aren't too demanding when it comes to combat, but they definitely still have all the fun factor, and they're great for gaining more confidence in movement and puzzle-solving. These come in all shapes and sizes, including even some beloved Nintendo ones you probably already know, such as Mario. In this genre, I'd recommend titles like Headland, Lil Gator Game, Haven Park, and SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom. You could also choose slightly higher-difficulty titles that are still accessible, such as The Legend of Zelda titles, most Mario games, and even the Kingdom Hearts franchise! I'd argue most adventure titles are good for novice-level skill.

City-builders and Management

I haven't been able to like these two genres because they do take quite a bit of attention and focus, but their gameplay is accessible and easy to grasp. The reason the games are difficult is that you've got to build cities and settlements while also keeping everyone in them happy, which takes focus and logic (two things I sorely lack). Despite the genre still being prevalent today, it was very famous back in the early 2000s, when titles like Sim City were all the rage! Nowadays, we've got a nice variety with great themes, graphics, and quality-of-life changes.

One of the best parts of these two genres is that there's no movement involved — you can play it with just a mouse! Unlike some of the others, this isn't set in a 3D or 2D setting that you need to traverse or fight in; all you have to do is manage the various tasks and build your dream places! 

If this sounds like something you're interested in, here are some options: The Sid Meier's Civilization franchise, Two Point Campus, the Tropico franchise, Evil Genius, Cities: Skylines, and the Anno franchise!

Story-based Games

Okay, for this one, I chose to squash together two genres — text-based and visual novels — into an overall "story-heavy" one, as there are a lot of great options within those two, and the only real difference is how much you can interact with things and how much visual aid you're presented. In general, both genres are all about watching a story unfold while you make part of it by choosing what the main character does, which leads to different unfolding of events. This category of genres can vary on how much interactability you find, but none of them are so complex that a newcomer won't be able to handle it! And if you're a fan of anime and manga, you'll surely find a ton that will interest you.

As a great example, one of the franchises I've enjoyed the most has been Telltale's The Walking Dead, which is a title based on the comics by Robert Kirkman that charmed (and terrified) so many through the titular TV show. In it, you'll be faced with harsh choices, and you'll watch your actions affect who dies and who lives, but an overwhelming percentage of the gameplay centres around choosing dialogue during conversations.

However, before I move on to offer some options, I do want to leave a big trigger warning here. These story-driven adventures sometimes rely on heavy topics, so if you get affected or have any triggers, I heavily advise you to read about themes you'll encounter in each game.

With that out of the way, make sure to check out any of these titles and find the story that resonates with you, as you can't go wrong with any of them: 

• Low interaction: Doki Doki Literature Club, Clannad.
• Medium interaction: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Coffee Talk.
• High interaction: Telltale's The Walking Dead, Danganronpa franchise, Life is Strange, Batman - The Telltale Series.

Point & Click

Last but not least, one of the genres that prevailed during the beginning of the PC gaming era was the point-and-click one, which can still be found even today, with phenomenal games that'll keep you hooked! These titles consist mostly of using only the mouse to do everything from walking to interacting, and thanks to that, they are very accessible to newcomers while still teaching you the language of videogames. 

While I feel like the visual novel category is a bit too saturated by the same type of titles (namely, anime), I feel like there's a much wider variety of games to explore in point & click. Among them, you'll find mystery games where you play a detective, escape rooms where you'll need to find and combine items to escape the area, hidden object titles that play like Where's Waldo, and story-driven games where you'll unravel deep narratives!

Without further ado, here are some recommendations: Unpacking, Fran Bow, Lost in Play, Death and Taxes, Hidden Through Time, Little Misfortune, Whateverland, and The Room.

Realistically speaking, there are hundreds of fantastic options for someone who is interested in getting into gaming; they're just a bit hard to find on your own! I hope that in my quick guide, you found at least a handful that piqued your interest. Don't worry — you'll be playing things like God of War (2018) in no time!